![]() In addition, prior studies on perceived discrimination among Asian immigrants have been narrow in scope or have aggregated multiple ethnic groups into the general category of “Asian Americans”. Despite their growing numbers and the reported high prevalence of chronic diseases, we are not aware of any research has explored perceived discrimination in medical care utilization in this high-risk ethnic group. Contrary to the model minority myth prevalent three decades earlier, Asian Indians have high prevalence rates of coronary heart disease (CHD), diabetes, and metabolic syndrome and diverse linguistic, educational, religious and socio-economic characteristics. In fact, Asian Indian were the largest detailed Asian subgroup in 23 states, more than any other detailed Asian group in 2010. is home to 3.2 million Asian Indians who are not confined to specific geographic areas in the US. Īsian Indians (AIs) are the third largest Asian sub-group in the U.S., after Chinese and Filipinos, and one of the fastest growing ethnic minority group. There is a paucity of research on Asians as a whole or its specific groups, despite the fact that Asian Americans are one of the fastest growing populations in the United States. The majority of the studies have examined the experiences of African Americans/Blacks and Hispanics. Yet, the study of discrimination in the healthcare setting is still in its infancy. The Institute of Medicine’s report- Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare - acknowledged that medical provider’s bias/prejudice is one mechanism for poor quality care and health outcomes among racial/ethnic minorities. In particular, studies have suggested that perceived discrimination when seeking health care services is related to important care process factors such as health care utilization, communication between patient and provider and treatment adherence. įurthermore, research has shown that perceived discrimination, while seeking healthcare services, has robust links to chronic health conditions (e.g., heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension) and poor mental health outcomes (e.g., depression and psychiatric disorders). Specifically, health outcomes associated with perceived interpersonal discrimination have varied widely from alcohol/tobacco use, hypertension/blood pressure, mental health, excess weight/obesity, and infant mortality. Evidence from recent literature reviews and meta-analysis suggest that perceived interpersonal discrimination is associated with a myriad of health behaviors and outcomes among various of racial/ethnic minority groups and even among select groups of Whites. Perceived interpersonal discrimination, a hypothesized psychosocial stressor based on the perception on poor or unfair treatment when compared to others, is strongly associated with poor overall physical and mental health among racial/ethnic minority groups, and Whites. Results offers initial support for the hypothesis that Asian Indians experience interpersonal discrimination when seeking health care services and that these experiences may be related to poor self-rated health status. However, older Asian Indians, over the age of 55 years, were less likely to perceive discrimination than those aged 18–34 years Indian American. (OR 3.28 95 % CI: 1.73–6.22) and had chronic illnesses (OR 1.39 95 % CI: 1.17–1.64) ( p < 0.05) were more likely to perceive discrimination when seeking health care. In addition, Asian Indians who lived for more than 10 years in the U.S. Poor self-rated health was associated with perceived health care discrimination after controlling for all of the respondent characteristics (OR 1.93 95 % CI: 1.17–3.19). However, Asian Indians who reported poor self-rated health were approximately twice as likely to perceived discrimination when seeking care as compared to those in good or excellent health status (OR 1.88 95 % CI 1.12–3.14). Perceived interpersonal discrimination when seeking health care was reported by a relatively small proportion of the population (7.2 %). The majority of the respondents was male, immigrants, college graduates, and had access to care. Mean age and years lived in the US was 45.7 ± 12.8 and 16.6 ± 11.1 years respectively. Participants comprised of 1824 Asian Indian adults in six states with higher concentration of Asian Indians. This study examined the correlates of reported interpersonal discrimination when seeking health care among a large sample of Asian Indians, the 3rd largest Asian American subgroup in the US, and identify predictors of adverse self-rated physical health, a well-accepted measure of overall health status. Yet, there is a paucity of research among Asian Americans or its subgroups. Perceived interpersonal discrimination while seeking healthcare services is associated with poor physical and mental health.
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